GK Films Announces a Historically Accurate Update of 'Spartacus'

Yearning for more entertainment set during the reign of the Roman Empire? Today’s your lucky day.

Graham King and his GK films have announced that they’re planning to undertake a new version of Spartacus – the tale of a slave who leads 30,000 gladiators and 40,000 slaves in a revolution against Rome’s ruling body. If the story sounds familiar, it’s because Stanley Kubrick made a fantastic movie out of the tale in 1960 – which starred Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier.

King acquired the story via a pitch from 300 scribe Michael B. Gordon (who seemingly should know a thing or two about writing scripts set in this historical era), but they’re not aiming to make an over-the-top popcorn flick in the same vein as Leonidas and the Spartans’ adventure. Instead, King says this new take on the material will use a more historically accurate approach. Given that this is Hollywood, how “historically accurate” the finished product will really be is open to debate.

Should the new Spartacus make it through development and into production, it’ll be entering a crowded marketplace when it comes to historical dramas set during the Roman Empire’s reign. Work is moving forward on the sequel to 300 and Starz’s Spartacus: Blood and Sand is already out there. Will audiences be up for more chariots and gladiators? Only time will tell. Perhaps the more pressing question is who should play Spartacus? Filling Kirk Douglas’ sandals is no easy task. Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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